Intaglio

The most promiment method of engraving in Europe, from the Italian “intagliare”, meaning ​“to incise.” Acid or a pointed tool is used to incise the composition into a metal plate, usually made of copper. After the image has been drawn, the plate is covered with ink, and then wiped so that only the incised areas contain ink. It is then pressed onto paper. The different types of intaglio prints are: etching, aquatint and photogravure (made using acid to corrode the metal plate), engraving, drypoint and mezzotint (made using a sharp tool). Often different techniques are used in combination.